News: New Music Biennial - Minute of Listening Announced

New Music Biennial composer residencies and Minute of Listening programme, delivered in partnership with Sound and Music

We are excited to be working alongside PRS for Music Foundation, which supports and provides a platform for talented organisations and music creators who are pushing the boundaries of new music in the UK.

As part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, these two exciting additional projects will involve local residents, community groups and primary schools across Hull in the creation and performance of new music in the city, over the next two years.

Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017 commented:

"A key ambition for Hull 2017 is seeing as many people in every neighbourhood having the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural activity across the city. The New Music Biennial Composer Residencies and Minute of Listening programme is a chance for local groups and schoolchildren to make or listen to music by highly respected musicians. It has an important part to play in our learning and participation programme and wehope it will unleash their creativity and develop their passion for music for years to come."

About the New Music Biennial

The New Music Biennial Composer Residencies will kick off in September 2016 to give local communities in Hull the chance to spend time and create music with five of the New Music Biennial’s brilliant music creators, folk legends Sam Lee and Eliza Carthy, classical composers Errollyn Wallen and Brian Irvine and beatbox/electronic artist Jason Singh.

The Composer Residencies will continue beyond July 2017 with local student music leaders mentored by New Music Biennial composers. New Music Biennial - Minute of Listening is a special edition of Sound and Music’s digital learning tool, which provides primary school classes and other groups the opportunity to listen to and reflect on 60 seconds of music or sound every day. Two soundpacks will be created over the course of the project, one to mark the beginning of Hull City of Culture 2017, which brings together many Hull-inspired sounds, and another following the New Music Biennial, which will feature new work by the Composers-in-Residence.

Vanessa Reed Executive Director of PRS for Music Foundation said:

“We’re delighted to bring the Composer Residencies and this special edition of Minute of Listening to Hull as part of the New Music Biennial 2017. Both initiatives will play a significant role in the build up to Hull UK City of Culture festivities in 2017 and beyond. The residencies will add an exciting opportunity for local communities, groups and schools in Hull to participate not only in the Festival weekends in 2017 but in the creation and performance of new music with some of the UK’s most talented composers. In addition, the Minute of Listening gives primary school children a fantastic opportunity to explore new music and sound as part of their daily learning activities in schools.”

Minute of Listening

Minute of Listening will feature ‘minutes’ by New Music Biennial composers, as well as unique sounds of the city of Hull. This highly innovative project will mean that local schools and community groups in Hull will have the chance to be more deeply engaged in the music and sounds of the New Music Biennial, throughout the whole year.

Susanna Eastburn, CEO of Sound and Music said:

“Minute of Listening is a powerful tool for listeners of all ages, including those with no specialist music training, to explore and reflect on the rich variety of new music and sound. We’re delighted to be working with the New Music Biennial 2017 to create a special edition for Hull and have already had a lot of fun in curating the first pack of sounds. Creative listening to music and sound can be a transformative experience, as well as a way to explore unfamiliar repertoire, and we are really looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds, and its impact and legacy across the city.”

The New Music Biennial Minute of Listening will run in parallel with the residencies until 2018.

The New Music Biennial Minute of Listening will be officially launched on 18th October 2016 and is available to schools now on request please contact: education@soundandmusic.org

PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Biennial is an exciting and free new music festival, presenting 20 pieces of new music across two festival weekends, in Hull as part of UK City of Culture 2017.